He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 28

28. The Eleventh Prey

“Please, try some of this.”

*Thump.*

The Baroness placed a fruit platter on the table and sat next to Baron Murray.

Seemingly frustrated by the trivial conversation between Theo and the Baron, she decided to intervene directly.

“Mr. Sanderson, have you found a suitable young lady from a good family for our son?”

“Ah, yes. Well… I am still looking into it.”

The Baroness couldn’t hide her disappointment at Theo’s answer.

“I thought you came all the way here because you had a good lady to introduce…”

“I am truly sorry. I felt I needed to talk more in-depth with your son. That way, I can choose the most suitable match for him, which is why I came to visit in person.”

However, the Countess looked perplexed.

“Oh dear, what should we do?”

“Pardon?”

“Gavin departed yesterday to attend the Orpington Ball. He won’t be back for at least five days.”

Theo thought it was all the better. It would be much easier to investigate Gavin Murray’s past movements in his absence.

“Well, that’s alright. Parents know their son’s tendencies best anyway. If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me a bit about him?”

Perhaps impressed by Theo’s dedication in traveling from London to discuss her son’s marriage prospects, the Baroness responded favorably.

“Haha. I’ve heard rumors that Mr. Sanderson’s matchmaking is delicate and special, and it seems to be true. You’re even trying to match personalities. Very well, ask me anything about my son.”

Theo asked about Gavin Murray’s personality and childhood, subtly comparing it to the timing of the nearby murder cases.

“Haha. From what I hear about your son’s personality, he seems like he would prefer staying home, like myself? He probably doesn’t go out late at night?”

“Oh, how did you know? That’s right. He has always liked being cooped up at home since he was young. But it’s the same even now that he’s grown, which worries me endlessly.”

All the murder cases in Beckenham, as well as nearby Croydon and Bromley, occurred late in the evening.

Moreover, the meticulous nature of the crimes suggested they were rehearsed multiple times. One couldn’t commit such acts while staying at home.

“Is it that extreme? Doesn’t he go out sometimes? To meet friends in the evening, or get some air?”

The Countess waved her hand.

“Oh dear, no. He never misses dinner. Other children his age are addicted to gambling and alcohol, which is a worry, but our son is the opposite.”

The Baroness wasn’t lying.

She was simply exaggerating slightly, or perhaps she didn’t remember the few times he went out.

‘This… I can’t figure it out relying only on inaccurate memories? There aren’t any CCTVs either. This is quite troublesome.’

Just then.

“Hehehehe-”

“Kikik-”

The Baron’s daughters covered their mouths and giggled.

“Why are you laughing?”

“It’s nothing.”

The Baroness sternly questioned them.

“What are you doing, acting so impolitely in front of a guest?”

The second daughter retorted with a wronged expression.

“It’s just that, it seems like Mother is worrying for no reason.”

“Worrying for no reason?”

“Mother, are you really worried that Brother doesn’t go out?”

“Of course, I’m worried! Aren’t you worried about your brother being stuck at home?”

“If that’s what you’re really worried about, then there’s no need to be.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Brother goes out every evening, how often.”

Theo’s eyes widened.

“He goes out every evening?”

“Well, not *often*, but a few times a month, he sneaks out the window after dinner. He says he’s going for a ride around the neighborhood because he’s feeling stuffy, and he’s gone for hours.”

“Is that true? Then why doesn’t he just go out the front door? Why sneak out the window like a thief?”

“We saw it by chance. Well, Brother says it’s because he doesn’t want Mother and Father to worry… Anyway, honestly, Brother’s personality is a bit strange, isn’t it?”

“Is that really what happened?”

“Yes. So, don’t worry too much. Maybe once he has a sister-in-law, he’ll go out for walks every evening?”

The Baroness seemed genuinely unaware and flustered.

“Hmm, well… that would be a relief.”

The youngest daughter chimed in.

“Brother’s real problem is something else.”

“What else is the problem?”

“He runs away even at balls.”

“Runs away at balls? What are you talking about now?”

The youngest daughter hesitated before continuing.

“Brother told me never to say this… At the ball hosted by Earl Burns a few months ago, Brother said it was boring and disappeared halfway through, never to be seen again.”

For a moment, Theo couldn’t believe his ears.

‘Burns? Francis… Earl Burns?’

The Baron’s daughters, unaware of Theo’s surprised expression, continued to chatter.

“That day, there weren’t enough men as it was, so it was a real opportunity, and we looked for Brother so much, but he was nowhere to be found. The next day, the ball was completely canceled due to that terrible incident, and the opportunity was completely lost.”

“Predictable. He probably ran off somewhere again and was squatting down, puffing away at a cigarette.”

The eldest daughter looked at the Baroness and said,

“By the way, I still can’t believe that the kind-hearted Earl was killed by none other than his heir, Viscount Anthony Burns. When I saw Viscount Burns on the first day, he didn’t seem like such a cruel person.”

“That’s why you all should always be careful. People’s outward appearances aren’t everything.”

As Viscount Anthony Burns’ name was mentioned, Theo felt himself stiffen.

A definite connection between Gavin Murray and Earl Burns, which he thought would be completely unrelated, had been discovered.

‘The day of the Kent family’s ball… Gavin Murray was there?’

On the evening Earl Burns died, Gavin Murray also attended the ball, and even more astonishingly, he disappeared from the ballroom around the time the murder occurred.

The Baroness, oblivious to Theo’s complicated feelings, kept mentioning the Earl’s family name, subtly hoping to be connected with a good family.

As Theo nodded and listened absentmindedly, he overheard the Baron’s daughters whispering.

“If Duke David Manners is hosting a ball in Orpington, then surely Marquis Granby Manners will be there too, right?”

“Since the Duke isn’t feeling well, his eldest son, Marquis Manners, will definitely attend the ball, won’t he?”

For the young nobles of this era, the ballroom was not only a place for fun but also the best place to find a marriage partner, so it was always a subject of interest.

Moreover, the Manners family’s ball, which was quite famous in England as well as Orpington, was a famous annual event in the surrounding area for its splendor and many attractions, no less than St. James’s Palace in London.

Suddenly, the Baroness scolded her daughters.

“You girls! This time, please take care of your brother properly. At this rate, he’ll miss out on all the good ladies and die an old bachelor!”

At the Baroness’s urging, the second daughter grumbled.

“What’s the point when Brother hates balls themselves? And what woman would want to be with a man who can’t dance or talk?”

Theo kept thinking about Gavin Murray, who had gone to Orpington alone to attend the ball.

‘Is Gavin Murray attending the ball again this time?’

Baron Murray, noticing Theo’s serious expression, asked.

“Mr. Sanderson, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“…Pardon?”

Theo, startled, looked up and met Baron Murray’s gaze head-on.

‘!’

And he almost screamed at the unexpected fact.

‘Green…!’

The Baron’s iris color was green.

‘Wait a minute… Seven out of the nine victims had green irises?’

Wilson’s murder case files detailed the victims’ iris colors, with seven out of nine victims marked as green, and the remaining two as dark brown.

However, the two recorded as dark brown were found several days after their deaths, so it could be assumed that their iris color had changed from green.

‘Earl Francis Burns, who was murdered, definitely had green eyes too.’

Theo was now regretting that he had only discovered this fact now.

The match in iris color could be an important clue in tracking down a psychopathic killer.

‘If Gavin Murray really is the psychopath who killed the Earl, then he was considering the color of the iris in selecting his targets.’

That meant Gavin Murray’s antagonistic target was likely his father, who had green eyes.

If so, Gavin Murray had experienced abuse from his parents, which the Baron and Baroness were hiding.

“Anyway, it’s something to see in my old age. That rascal left so quickly, saying he was going to attend the ball first. But I’m worried he might be rude to Duke Manners. When you and the children go in three days, make sure to take care of him properly and introduce him.”

Theo sensed that Gavin Murray’s next target was ‘Duke Manners.’

A higher status than the Earl, elderly and frail, making him easy for the diminutive Gavin to subdue, and if he had green irises….

Hiding his trembling heart, Theo cautiously opened his mouth.

“Duke Manners, I think I’ve met him once before…”

It was a lie. Theo had never met Duke Manners.

Baron Murray’s eyes widened with curiosity.

“Mr. Sanderson, you’ve met Duke Manners?”

“Ah, yes… I think I met him once in London a while ago. He was small in stature but had a very pleasant demeanor. And, his eye color was a beautiful green, like yours, Baron?”

The Baron nodded vigorously.

“Ah, yes. That’s right, that’s right. Duke Manners also has green eyes. Hahaha. So, you know him too, Mr. Sanderson?”

Theo felt like he was suffocating.

From a layman’s perspective, it might still be speculation, but to Theo, who could read the mind of a psychopath, everything was now clear.

The dying victim’s green irises and the bright red blood gushing from their necks… This must have fulfilled Gavin Murray’s fantasy.

The previous nine serial murders and the murder of Earl Burns.

With Gavin Murray at the center of the puzzle, everything was clearly connected.

**

After leaving the Murray Baron’s residence, Theo was deep in thought while waiting for his carriage.

He was now strongly convinced that Gavin Murray was the psychopath who murdered Earl Burns, but one thing bothered him.

‘I couldn’t find any particular childhood abuse experience.’

Gavin Murray’s upbringing, as told by the Baroness, was not much different from that of an ordinary aristocratic family.

Given the historical context, there was a degree of neglect and a lack of proper education, but there was no evidence of physical violence or mental abuse.

Judging from the cheerful three daughters, it was difficult to conclude that the Baron and Baroness had treated Gavin harshly.

The dying victim’s green irises and the bright red blood gushing from their necks… This must have fulfilled Gavin Murray’s fantasy.

The previous nine serial murders and the murder of Earl Burns.

With Gavin Murray at the center of the puzzle, everything was clearly connected.

After leaving the Murray Baron’s residence, Theo was deep in thought while waiting for his carriage.

He was now strongly convinced that Gavin Murray was the psychopath who murdered Earl Burns, but one thing bothered him.

‘I couldn’t find any particular childhood abuse experience.’

Gavin Murray’s upbringing, as told by the Baroness, was not much different from that of an ordinary aristocratic family.

Given the historical context, there was a degree of neglect and a lack of proper education, but there was no evidence of physical violence or mental abuse.

Judging from the cheerful three daughters, it was difficult to conclude that the Baron and Baroness had treated Gavin harshly.

‘For Gavin Murray’s psychopathic tendencies to escalate into serial murder, there must have been extreme abuse in his childhood. But with this kind of family environment, it seems unlikely he would have become a serial killer…’

It might be a psychologist’s stubbornness, but Theo wanted to find evidence of childhood abuse to complete the perfect puzzle.

Clatter. Clatter.

While he was pondering, the carriage arrived.

“Sir? Shall we go?”

Just as Theo was about to get into the carriage, he saw a middle-aged woman with a basket coming out of the Murray Baron’s residence.

It was the housekeeper he had seen in the living room earlier.

However, she had a severe limp, as if her left leg was injured.

Theo, who was about to get into the carriage, turned and asked the housekeeper,

“Where are you headed?”

“Oh, yes. I’m just going to do some shopping.”

“It looks like your leg is bothering you. Would you like a ride?”

“Oh, no. I couldn’t possibly.”

“It’s no trouble. It’s quite a distance, shall we go together?”

“Oh, I’d feel terrible.”

Clatter. Clatter. Clatter.

The housekeeper, now in the carriage, repeatedly thanked Theo.

“Thank you so much, thank you. My leg was really hurting.”

“It’s nothing. I was heading that way anyway.”

As Theo rode with the housekeeper, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

If Gavin Murray came from a wealthy aristocratic family like the Murray Baron, he would have been raised by a nanny.

If so, the nanny would know Gavin Murray’s true nature better than anyone.

‘Perhaps I can complete the final piece of Gavin Murray’s puzzle through the nanny?’

Theo cautiously asked the housekeeper.

“Excuse me, how long have you been working at the Murray Baron’s residence?”

“Almost 15 years.”

“Then, is the nanny who took care of Gavin Murray as a child still working at the Baron’s residence?”

“Nanny?”

“Yes.”

The housekeeper asked with a wary look.

“Why are you looking for Master Murray’s nanny?”

“Oh, it’s nothing much. You know I work as a matchmaker, right?”

“Yes.”

“My principle is to consult with people closely related to my clients. But I forgot to consult with the nanny. I was wondering if I should go back to the Baron’s house.”

The housekeeper shook her head.

“There’s no need to do that. Mrs. Baker doesn’t live at the Baron’s house.”

It seemed the nanny’s name was Mrs. Baker.

“She doesn’t?”

“She quit a long time ago due to a small issue. She took care of Master Murray until he was 10 years old. She left a few months after I came to this house.”

“Really? Do you happen to know where that nanny lives now?”

“I heard she still lives in this village, but I don’t know exactly where.”

Theo’s heart pounded again at the mention that the nanny was in this village.

He was convinced that Gavin Murray was the culprit, but as a psychologist, he wanted to go through the process of confirming his childhood to obtain confirmation that he was a psychopathic killer.

‘Let’s go find the former nanny.’

Although it is a closed society where information is difficult to find, finding someone who lives in the same neighborhood is surprisingly simple.

After dropping off the housekeeper, Theo entered the village entrance and spoke to a passing boy.

“Hey, do you know the Murray Baron?”

“Of course, who in this town doesn’t know the Baron?”

“Good, that’s great. Then do you know the person who worked as Master Murray’s nanny at the Baron’s residence?”

“Are you talking about Mrs. Baker?”

Theo took out a coin and asked the boy again.

“Yes, that’s right. Do you know where Mrs. Baker lives?”

The boy’s eyes were fixed on the shining coin.

“Of course! I know Mrs. Baker well. Shall I tell you where her house is?”

*

Clatter. Clatter.

Mrs. Baker’s house was farther than he thought. It was at least a 30-minute carriage ride from the Murray Baron’s residence.

“Sir, I think this is it?”

As the boy who showed him the way said, two small cabins were visible at the end of the road where carriages traveled.

‘He said it was the cabin on the right.’

Smoke was rising from the chimney, so it seemed someone was home.

Getting out of the carriage and approaching, he could smell gnats and the stench of water, indicating a swamp nearby.

“Hoo-”

Theo took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Knock knock knock.

Then he heard a noise from inside, and soon the door opened.

Clunk-

It was an elderly woman with a sharp impression.

“Who are you?”

“Is this where Mrs. Baker, who used to work at the Murray Baron’s residence, lives?”

The woman, who seemed startled for a moment, stared at Theo.

“Why are you looking for me from that house?”

“Oh, hello, Mrs. Baker? I came here because I have a few things to ask you regarding that house.”

Mrs. Baker replied coldly.

“I have nothing to say about that house. So please leave.”

“This won’t harm you in any way.”

“It’s noisy. Whether there’s harm or not, it’s none of my business, so just go back!”

“Please, ma’am! Just listen to me once. It’s about Gavin Murray. An innocent person could die because of him!”

Mrs. Baker, who was about to close the door, hesitated and glared at Theo.

“An innocent person could die? What are you talking about?”

“I want to talk inside. It’s really important.”

After hesitating for a moment, Mrs. Baker opened the door.

“Come in.”

“Oh, thank you so much.”

*

The cabin was small and dark, but the inside was very neatly organized.

Thump-.

Mrs. Baker put cheap tea on the table and sat down, and Theo spoke first.

“The reason I came all the way here is that I heard you worked as Gavin Murray’s nanny.”

At that moment, Mrs. Baker’s shoulders slightly lifted and her neck shrank.

It was a gesture that usually came out when hearing a topic of conversation that you wanted to avoid or bad news that made you uneasy.

“Oh, Lord, please forgive me.”

The woman murmured as if praying for a moment, and then her uneasy gestures soon returned to a calm appearance.

“Earlier, you said that someone might die unfairly because of Master Murray, right?”

“That’s right.”

“May I ask what happened?”

“I’m sorry, but I’m only suspicious and can’t be sure if it’s because of Gavin Murray. So I don’t think I can tell you the details.”

“Is Master Murray doing some terrible lies or scary things again?”

“······.”

“So, what do you want to know?”

“Just one thing. Gavin Murray’s childhood appearance.”

“Why do you want to know his childhood appearance?”

“I have to know Gavin Murray’s true appearance. Only then can I prevent the death of an innocent person.”

Mrs. Baker didn’t ask any more questions. And she opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.

“I consider Gavin Murray to be a devil.”

“Yes? A devil?”

“He was abandoned by the Baron and his wife as soon as he was born, and he grew up without receiving any love, so I tried my best to help him. But it wasn’t easy. Because the devil can never get along with people.”

“···!”

The story he heard from Mrs. Baker was somewhat shocking.

The peace I felt in the Baron’s mansion today was completely different from the environment in which Gavin Murray grew up.

The Murray Baron emphasized masculinity and scolded Gavin Murray from the time he couldn’t even walk properly, and on some days he would get drunk and hang Gavin on a tree and punish him.

The child was so afraid of the Baron that he had a seizure whenever he heard his father’s footsteps in the hallway, and he lived with severe swearing and scolding because he couldn’t control his urination until he was over 6 years old.

The Baroness, who was suffering from severe postpartum depression at the time, left young Gavin as soon as she gave birth to her second daughter and left for Italy.

Gavin Murray gradually showed strange behavior between his violent and indifferent father and his mother who left with only his sisters.

Mrs. Baker recalled an episode.

“When he was seven years old, someone set fire to the crop warehouse and burned it all down. But Gavin Murray’s face and hands were covered in traces of playing with fire. Anyone could tell that he had been playing with fire.

The enraged Baron asked why he set the fire, but the young master, in front of his father, whom he usually feared so much, rather confidently got angry and lied that he didn’t. But at that time, his expression was really like he was about to die unfairly.

The angry Baron hung him on a tree and even whipped him, but he insisted that he didn’t do it. If Mr. Sanderson had seen that day’s appearance, he would have thought that another evil spirit was in the young master’s body.”

Although it is not an absolute standard, animal abuse, arson, and blatant lies through manipulation shown in childhood are one of the signs that can show psychopathic tendencies.

“Starting with that, he constantly committed acts of being possessed by the devil. He killed two pet dogs that he had raised for a long time, and after learning to hunt from the Baron, he cut off the neck of a newborn foal with a knife. At that time, the young master’s appearance, covered in foal blood and laughing grotesquely… really…”

Unable to tolerate Gavin Murray’s continued bizarre and terrible behavior, Mrs. Baker told everything as soon as the Baroness returned to England.

However, the Baroness rather became furious, accusing her of driving her child crazy, and made a fuss, saying that it was entirely Mrs. Baker’s fault for making his personality strange, causing her great distress.

She was kicked out of the Baron’s house because of that, and she had no choice but to come to this remote place far from the village without even getting a job.

With this, the childhood abuse, which was the decisive factor needed to confirm that Gavin Murray was a psychopathic serial killer, was now confirmed.

‘The perpetrator of the nine serial murders in the southeastern region of London over the past three years and the tenth murder of Earl Francis Burns was Gavin Murray. And Gavin Murray will soon commit his 11th murder.’

The flame of the cheap resin candle placed under the cross was shaking uneasily.